Coming to Our Senses: Healing Ourselves and the World Through Mindfulness

This book is probably one of the most important books I've ever read. Written by one of the most influential proponents of mindfulness, this book is Jon Kabat-Zinn's magnum opus. Highly recommended.

Reading this long but worthwhile book is like being drawn into the whole question Krishnamurti dealt with between individual change and society's need for change...Can Humanity indeed Change??The author,a scholar and practicioner of stress management and meditation sees ongoing political problems and the misery of the world yet somehow makes no attempts in explicating how the world can change for the better if indeed people of all religions and nationalities would adapt this form of radical intuition..While reading I had wished that this book can be delivered and studied by future would-be terrorists so they can COME TO THEIR SENSES..I hope that proponents of religious triumphalism and zealots who blow themselves and civilians up for the glories of heaven and murder's sake can stop,look and listen to a passionate plea from a well meaning man for people to listen to their senses and the universe we all share. Not only in his Buddhist framework but in a shared humanity based on the national and cultural differences amongst men despite the shared Essence we all share..Indeed FAMILIarity does not breed contempt.Perhaps this long book would be a wonderful textbook for grade schoolers on how to see with a 3rd eye and certainly a book positing Creative Intelligence/Design but till the world defines for itself a sense of a rational purpose based on compassion respecting and preserving life for all sentient beings then these concepts of stress reduction,the appreciation of life,the need to live in constant meditation can assist those in their individual quest for meaning but not on a global scale as the author sets out to do..Those involved in power and the concept of linear time and the progress of their view of history will not alter their concepts of good and evil nor blur the distinctions they make in regards to domination. Overall, being a sort of compilation of his ideas found in his other books I think it a good read and certainly it offers sound advice on transforming one's inner vision into one that is more life affirming and less delussional.

*****This book woke me up, literally. "Coming to Our Senses" is a large, long, and for me---difficult, book about mindfulness. That said, it is well worth the read. The experience of reading this book was an awakening for me to the world outside my head, where I live most of my life, and where I suspect most of us live our lives. I don't think how I can explain HOW this happens, either, but I know it does.I started reading it on vacation in Hawaii on my balcony outside, and slowly but gradually I became aware of the environment all around me----the sounds, the smells---and the environment within me---my aches and pains, my feelings, bodily sensations, etc. It was a new experience for me. It was really exciting to have it happen on vacation in Hawaii. I would think though, that wherever you are, if you make the time for the adventure of reading this book, and stick with it, you will have this same "awakening" experience.Much of the book is about meditation as well as mindfulness, the author's own experiences, and his reflections on our society. He also writes about conventional medicine and how it is beginning to utilize mindfulness. Jon Kabat-Zinn is a fine writer, and though the book is a tome, it is SO worth it. He got me excited about meditation, whereas other books have not. I am a Type A person, so I get anxious at just the thought of sitting around doing nothing for even a few minutes (or seconds); however, the author describes the incredible benefits to be delivered from a simple meditation practice after only several weeks of daily effort, so for me this would be well worth it. It gives you enough information to get started (you apparently really don't need that much), but the author also has references, further reading lists, web site lists, and his own CDs and resources (which he doesn't push but simply offers). After spending almost 700 wonderful pages with him, I trust the author and feel very privileged to have read his book.The writing style of the book is scientific, philosophical, and grounded, not "new age" at all, another aspect I appreciated. I would encourage you to buy it and read it if you enjoy reading AND thinking, and if you're intrigued at all by the subject matter. I haven't read any of his other books, so I don't know how this one compares. I truly am baffled by previous reviewers who were "disappointed"; in this book, the author definitely delivers! It is a gorgeous hardback book with rough-cut edges (and it smells great too)---well worth the retail price (unlike many hardback books) let alone Amazon's discounted price.*****

This book talks of the importance of "falling awake," instead of remaining on autopilot and often unconscious. The mind, body and emotions have been conditioned to automatically react, instead of paying attention and responding to what is unfolding before us, moment by moment. It mentions the importance of paying attention to what is occurring right now, and observing it, not judging or having opinions about it, not pursuing or rejecting it, but simply observing it, allowing it to BE, and allowing it go and to pass, as it will. It reminds us to be present in the present moment, and to learn how to be more mindful of our thoughts, feelings, and sensations that are occurring right NOW. Jon Kabat-Zinn writes eloquently and beautifully. At first I was a little taken aback when some of the sentences were almost as long as the entire page of my iPad, but after getting into the first chapter, it now makes sense. I have the Amazon Kindle version, which comes with a free download of the dictionary, in case you need to look up any words. You can also highlight in several colors. This book corresponds with the Series 3 CDs, which can be downloaded in MPS format, and contain 10 wonderful meditation sessions. My all-time favorite Jon Kabat-Zinn book remains, Wherever You Go, There You Are, which, in my opinion, is like having an operating manual for life and living. These books have changed my life and the way in which I relate with it, by showing me how to get in touch with my essential self, by BE-ing in the present moment.

A book for the deep thinker and so powerful it will change your life if heeded too.

Interesting book

A most thoughtful read as I expected from Kabat-Zinn. I have read some of his other books, al of which were excellent. In this book, the focus is on the senses and how they place in the midst of the world. Kabat-ZInn explains his view of the world and Buddhism in an elegant book. I found the book took a while to read as it constantly provoked thinking on man's place in this universe and how we are much more than we take time to realize. I will keep this book handy, with all of its underlined bits I have noted, and I will refer to it going forward - repeatedly certainly.

Jon Kabat-Zinn, one of the pioneers that brought mindfulness to our Western Culture, shares with us another book which describes many ways in which Mindfulness can be beneficial to our families, societies, and the Earth itself. I definitely recommend it.

Jon Kabat-Zinn ist eine Klasse für sich, nachdem heutzutage jeder versucht, mit dem Thema mindfulness Kasse zu machen. Diese Buch ist mE für Personen, die mit dem Thema an sich schon gut vertraut sind, da er auch übergeordnete Bereiche wie Auswirkungen auf Politik, Gesellschaft etc.anspricht. Wie immer höchst authentisch mit guten Gedankenanstössen.